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Illustration by Benjamin Abesamis
9 TraiTs ThaT Make an ausTralian XAVIER TOBY enlightens us on the essence of that wild, wonderful continent and its inhabitants.
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hat is uniquely Australian? What defines something or someone as distinctly Aussie? Let’s find out, shall we? 1. NEARlY EVERYONE lIVEs NEAR ThE BEAch Most of us live around the edges of Australia, as the middle is one big desert. A lot of Australian holidays involve driving from the beach where you live, to a slightly warmer or less populated one. 2. suNglAssEs ARE fOR fAshION ANd fuNcTION Everyone wears sunglasses, and that’s because if you want to see Australia, it’s so bright that without them, you simply won’t be able. 3. spORT Is NumBER ONE Anything that moves and involves a competition, we love it. Especially football. In the north it’s rugby, and in the south it’s AFL (Australian Rules Football). 4. WE EAT EVERYThINg As one of the most culturally diverse countries on the planet, “Australian” food doesn’t really exist. What we do have are outstanding examples of nearly every type of cuisine—with a twist.
60 I Mabuhay Magazine I June 2013
5. WE dRINk EVERYThINg We love drinking so much that you can get alcohol without even getting out of your car. Don’t worry, drinking while driving is still illegal, we’re just lazy. 6. ThERE’s AlWAYs A fEsTIVAl In Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, there are often multiple festivals of every kind going on at the same time. Don’t miss out. 7. WAlkINg culTuRE What we’re really mad for is walking. Along the coast, through national parks, up and down mountains, and around markets and lakes. Just take a walk at 6 p.m. on any beach and you’ll see what I mean. 8. dANgEROus ANImAls—WE dON’T cARE Every tourist asks, “Aren’t you worried about the sharks, spiders, snakes, crocodiles, etc.?” No, we’re not. 9. EVERY AusTRAlIAN cAN sWIm Those who call themselves Australians but can’t swim, they’re not really Australian. n
Watch This Space Australian cities are among some of the largest in the world— not by population, but by land mass.